NORWICH – While costly repairs are inevitable down the road, the Norwich Common Council on Tuesday voted to make bare minimum fixes to the Kurt Beyer Pool that will keep the pool open for another season.

The fate of the public pool was still uncertain a month ago, when city officials were getting estimates for necessary repairs that approached $15,000 for a one-year fix. That number, however, has now been pared down to $10,000 which will cover costs to patch tile and grout, and to hire someone to maintain the pool throughout the summer.

City officials also found a solution to a labor dilemma. The job to maintain the pool requires availability to check pH levels on a daily basis, which means being in town every day over the course of the summer. Due to budget restraints, the person who held the job in previous years has been cut from the DPW staff; however, the city now has the names certified businesses willing to enter a seasonal contract.

“Our plan right now is just to get the pool operational,” said Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike. “If there is nobody in the city who can maintain the pool, there are three certified operators in the area that are available.”